Chapter Twenty-Six: Triumphant Return

“If it’s just idle chatter, there’s no need to say it.”
Song Moting flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
“Don’t you want to know what kind of insect attacked your army?”
Seeing Song Moting about to walk away, Rong Jiu grew anxious and quickly called out.
As expected, the moment he heard her words, Song Moting halted at once.
“I know what you’re worried about. I know what the insects were that the Ming army summoned against you. They’re called Tail-Stinger Flies, a species unique to the south, created by a Gu master through combining Bloodthirsty Flies and Venomous Pan Bees. Because of this, they possess the traits of both: they crave flesh and blood, and their tails carry deadly poison.”
Without waiting for Song Moting to question her, Rong Jiu explained the origins and characteristics of the Tail-Stinger Flies.
“How do you know this?”
Song Moting was a bit surprised that Rong Jiu would know such things.
“Uh… We have thousands of books in Xining, and when I’m bored I like to read miscellaneous writings. I happened upon a description of the Tail-Stinger Fly once, and remembered it because it was so unusual.”
Rong Jiu wiped the cold sweat from her brow, forcing herself to fabricate a story. She couldn’t very well say she’d read it in a modern library!
“You’re sure those insects are Tail-Stinger Flies?”
Song Moting was still doubtful, after all, Rong Jiu had never actually seen the insects.
“I know what you’re thinking. I haven’t seen them myself, but I heard the Third Prince describe the features of the insects that attacked your army. That’s how I’m certain they’re Tail-Stinger Flies. Besides, there are many Gu masters in the Mingyue Kingdom, so I can’t be wrong!”
Rong Jiu spoke with precision and confidence. At this, all of Song Moting’s doubts were dispelled, and he quickly asked her for a solution.
“Then do you know how to deal with them?”
Rong Jiu lowered her head in thought before answering,
“Since the Tail-Stinger Fly is a fusion of the Bloodthirsty Fly and the Venomous Pan Bee, it must have the characteristics of the latter. Most likely, the Mingyue Kingdom’s people are using a queen bee to control them. That’s why the flies only attack your soldiers and not theirs.”
“So if we find the person controlling the queen bee and kill them, the Tail-Stinger Flies will lose their leader.”
“Exactly, Your Highness is most astute!”
Rong Jiu smiled with praise.
“But on a battlefield with so many people, how can we find the one controlling the queen bee?” Song Moting frowned.
“That’s simple. Advanced Gu insects like Tail-Stinger Flies, created from two species, can only be fed on the flesh of their controller. In other words, the queen bee resides inside the controller’s body. Anyone hosting such a sinister creature will have a dark complexion, bloodless lips, and a vacant gaze. Just look for someone with these traits and shoot them at once.”
Song Moting felt a sudden clarity, his brow finally relaxing.
Looking at Rong Jiu’s smiling face before him, Song Moting felt a new sense of admiration. The problem that had stumped everyone, she had solved with such ease. Now, he truly saw her in a different light.
“Thank you. I’ll go to the Emperor right away!” Song Moting said. Never before in his life had he thanked someone so earnestly.
“Hurry, then. But, may I ask you a favor?” Rong Jiu asked, a hint of urgency in her voice.
“What is it?”
“Just… please don’t tell anyone else that it was I who told you this, all right?”
Rong Jiu had no clue whether Xining’s records mentioned the Tail-Stinger Fly, and Amu had told her that the real Rong Jiu had always hated reading. If word got out, she’d have to think up another lie, and the very thought was troublesome.
This request was somewhat unexpected for Song Moting. If all this were true, Rong Jiu would be owed a great merit. She could bask in praise and recognition, and yet she asked for none of it.
Song Moting realized he had never met someone so inscrutable.

“Why?” Song Moting inquired.
“Uh… I have my reasons. Just please do this for me!”
Song Moting looked at Rong Jiu’s awkward, slightly panicked expression and found it unexpectedly endearing; the corners of his lips even curled up slightly.
“Very well.”
Rong Jiu looked up in surprise, not expecting Song Moting to agree so readily.
“Oh! I nearly forgot to tell you,” she said, slapping her forehead, “After you kill the controller of the queen bee, the swarm will go berserk and attack everyone in sight. But bees fear fire the most. If you light torches at that moment, the swarm will only attack the Mingyue Kingdom’s soldiers!”
“Mm. I’ll remember.” Song Moting nodded.
“Go tell the Emperor quickly. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival—we should be celebrating, but everyone looks anxious, not a trace of festivity to be found.” Rong Jiu smiled.
“Indeed. But first, let me escort you to your brother.” Song Moting said.
Rong Jiu felt a secret delight at these words. He does care about me after all—Rong Jiu, you’ve come a long way!
After Song Moting revealed the solution at the banquet, Song Mian’s gloom vanished at once, replaced with joy. He immediately ordered writing materials to be brought, and personally composed a letter to be sent to the border that very night.
Everyone present felt their worries lift.
Outside, fireworks blossomed in the night sky.
Through the crowd, Rong Jiu stole a glance at Song Moting, only to find him looking back at her. Her heart brimmed with happiness, yet she did not notice that on the other side, Song Moci was also watching her. Seeing the two exchange glances, his lips twisted with bitterness.

At Jinggu Pass.
Song Moan had ordered the soldiers to shelter in the city for three days. During that time, the Ming army had been shouting provocations outside the walls, growing ever more arrogant.
Though Song Moan was livid, there was nothing he could do. He could not simply watch his soldiers march to their deaths.
Just as he was brooding, Qiao Muqing hurried in.
“Moan, the Emperor has sent a letter! He says they’ve found a way!”
He had barely reached the door before he shouted the news, unable to contain himself.
“Really?”
Song Moan rushed forward.
“The messenger said the solution is in this letter.” Qiao Muqing said as he raised the letter in his hand.
“Open it, quick!”
They tore open the letter and read it twice over, their excitement mounting.
“This is wonderful! We don’t have to hide any longer. Big brother is truly remarkable. Muqing, who’d have thought that our first time in charge, we’d still have to rely on him in the end.”
“That’s why we must work even harder and win this fight!”
The two exchanged a smile, and were just about to share the solution with the soldiers when the Ming army once again began shouting outside the city.
“Hmph, this time, let’s make sure they never return!” Song Moan’s gaze was sharp. “Muqing, your archery is unmatched. I’ll try to distract them; you hide behind and search for the one hosting the queen bee.”
“Leave it to me!”
Qiao Muqing nodded.
In the army, Qiao Muqing was second to none in archery, so Song Moan trusted him completely.

Once all was arranged, Song Moan ascended the city wall, while Qiao Muqing and the other soldiers scanned the enemy ranks for the queen bee’s host. Meanwhile, the Ming army below was more arrogant than ever.
Changyu Ningxu, upon seeing Song Moan emerge, couldn’t help but taunt, “Oh? Not hiding in your shell today?”
“Prince Ningxu, are you truly proud of winning with such underhanded tricks?” Song Moan retorted with a cold snort.
“Hahaha, underhanded? If it brings victory, why should I care? You coward, you’re in no place to judge us. Come down and fight if you dare, or are you content being a turtle in its shell?”
Changyu Ningxu laughed loudly as he spoke.
Song Moan’s clenched fists trembled, his brows furrowed in disgust at Changyu Ningxu’s words, a fire raging in his heart.
At that moment, Qiao Muqing had already identified the enemy’s queen bee hosts. He approached Song Moan and nodded.
“We’ll see who has the last laugh soon enough.”
With that, Song Moan signaled for the gates to open. At once, the You Army surged forth like fish into the river.
Changyu Ningxu and the Ming soldiers had grown used to hurling insults daily, but never imagined the You Army would suddenly charge out. Caught off guard, they fell into disarray, only snapping back to reality when the enemy was upon them.
By then, their formation was already in chaos, no match for the You Army.
Changyu Ningxu found himself surrounded, and seeing his men overwhelmed, he hastily ordered the two queen bee hosts to summon the Tail-Stinger Flies.
“Hurry, summon the flies! Quickly!”
The two obeyed, using their dark arts to call forth the swarm. Soon, a thunderous buzzing filled the sky.
Like a black cloud, the Tail-Stinger Flies descended upon them.
At that moment, Qiao Muqing, positioned on the city wall, cleanly shot down the two hosts with his bow.
Seizing the moment, Song Moan charged at Changyu Ningxu while commanding the soldiers,
“Light the torches! Everyone, form up back to back!”
Without their controller, the Tail-Stinger Flies went berserk, attacking all in sight.
The unprepared Ming soldiers were soon torn apart by the ravenous insects, their screams echoing on the battlefield. Enraged by the torches, the flies turned on even the uninjured Ming soldiers. The scene was one of utter carnage.
The You Army won a resounding victory, and the Ming army paid dearly, suffering the very fate they had intended for others. Though Changyu Ningxu managed to escape, the Ming army suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat from Chishui all the way back to the capital.
In court, when news came that Song Moan and his men had routed the Ming army, Song Mian and the ministers wept tears of joy.
That night, Song Mian hosted a grand banquet. Rong Jiu sat at the feast, watching Song Moting’s rare smile and feeling truly happy.
Everyone believed the victory was owed to Song Moting—without him, Jinggu Pass might have been lost.
Though praise and flattery poured in, Song Moting responded only with a faint smile, knowing full well that all credit belonged to Rong Jiu, not himself.
When Song Mian asked what reward he desired, Song Moting, in a rare move, requested a luminous pearl.
Such pearls were rare, but since it was his first request, and his merit so great, Song Mian agreed without hesitation, vowing to find him one even if it took ten.
Meanwhile, bonfires were lit in the army, celebrating the joy of victory.
Three days later, after settling all affairs, Song Moan led a select group of soldiers and triumphantly returned to the capital.